Method for increasing interferon activity in an individual

Abstract

A novel IFN-α/β independent ligand receptor system which upon engagement leads, among other things, to the establishment of an anti-viral state is disclosed. Further disclosed are three closely positioned genes on human chromosome 19 that encode distinct but highly homologous proteins, designated INF-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, based inter alia, in their ability to induce antiviral protection. Expression of these proteins is induced upon viral infection. A receptor complex utilized by all three IFN-λ proteins for signaling is also disclosed. The receptor complex is generally composed of two subunits, a novel receptor designated IFN-λR1 or CRF2-12, and a second subunit, IL-10R2 or CRF2-4, which is also a shared receptor component for the IL-10 and IL-22 receptor complexes. The gene encoding IFN-λR1 is generally widely expressed, including many different cell types and tissues. Expression of these proteins is induced by immune events, including, for example, upon viral infection. Apoptotosis may also be induced under effective conditions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating an individual suffering from a viral infection, said method comprising administering to such an individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a interferon lambda-3 (IFN-λ3) polypeptide. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the IFN-λ3 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acids 2-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; 
 amino acids 23-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; 
 amino acids 6-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acids 12-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acids 7-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; 
 amino acids 13-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12; and 
 amino acids 31-196 of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the IFN-λ3 polypeptide is modified by translational or post-translational processing or by a chemical modification technique. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the IFN-λ3 polypeptide is modified by acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, pegylation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, or transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3  wherein the IFN-λ3 polypeptide is modified by pegylation. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viral infection is caused by a DNA virus, an RNA virus, a virus of the viral family of Arbovirus, Adenoviridae, Arenaviridae, Arterivirus, Birnaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Caliciviridae, Circoviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Herpesviridae, Mononegavirus, Orthomyxoviridae, Papiloma virus, Papovaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picomaviridae, Poxviridae, Reoviridae, Retroviridae or Togaviridae, a virus causing the common cold or a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the individual is unresponsive to IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-omega, KDI, and other cytokines or interferons.